TT rower makes Caribbean history

A TRINIDADIAN who migrated to Barbados several years ago and a Barbadian team-mate were hours away from creating Caribbean boating history.

The pair, Randal Valdez, son of ex-national tennis champ Peter Valdez and Phil Als are currently in third place in the cross-Atlantic rowing event from Tenerife, Canary Islands to Barbados. According to latest information, the duo is approximately 36 miles off  the Barbados coast of  Port St Charles. Valdez and Als were expected to dock between 6 and 10 pm last night to complete their approximately 3,000 nautical miles sea journey. According to Valdez’s uncle Stephen yesterday, over 30 teams began the trip but several crews dropped out along the way. He said the best finish for the trip is approximately 41 days and Valdez and Als is on course to complete the test of physical strength and endurance in 44 days. The big first-time adventure for Valdez and Als began in October and it also  marked the first occasion a Caribbean crew were in the race.